Manure loader



June 5, 1923.

F. E. NULL MANURE LOADER Fi led May 27. 1921 I5 Sheets-Sheet l l/V VEN TOR A TTR/VEYS A INI/ENTOH E EJVMZZ, Mfg

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M o nu u 1 IW Nw? euU m mq) N 5w.. o U

F E NULL MANURE LOADER 7 2 y a M u d e l l F Ogu mi v W %\\1 ATTUHNEYS June 5, 1923. 1,457,668

F. E. NULL MANURE LOADERv Filed May 27. 1921 3 sheets-sheet 5 Maw 250,

A TTORNEYS Patented June 5, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT-oFF 1,457,668 ICE.

FAY EDISON NULL, or URBANA, ILLINoIs` MANURE LOADER.

Application led May 27, 1921. Serial No; 472,947.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FAY EDIsoNNULL, a citizen of the United States, and -a resident ofUrbana, in the county of Champaignand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful `Improvements in Manure Load-- ers, of which the following is a specification. y

The present invention relates to manure loaders, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which is effective to completely gather or pick up the material from the ground, elevate it without loss or scattering, and transfer it to a lateral conveyor which is movable in either direction under the control of the operator; which is readily and easily adaptable to the various Condit-ions met with and which in general is of simple and durable construction, reliable in operation and comparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture and operate.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in thcappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which: l.

Figure 1 is a side-elevational view of a machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view illustratrear ends of the carrier bars 33. These eleing .the gearing for driving the traction wheels, elevator and conveyor.

Referring to the drawings wherein for the sake of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates the mainframe of the machine which is supported upon the traction Wheels 11 by means of the axle 12. The main frame is mounted for pivotal movement on the axle 12 and this pivotal movement of the main frame is controlled by a suitable mechanism which includes 'a ground wheel 15 rotatably mounted in a stirrup 16 carried at the lower end of a .vertical shaft" 17 having -xed thereto a screw 18 cooperatively engaged with a" nut formed centrally ofa beveled gear 20. 1 The beveled gear 20 is rotatably journaled in a bearing.2l carried by the main frame and is actuated by means of a beveled pinion 22 meshing therewith and carried-at one end of a horizontal shaft 23,

.- -the otherend ofiwhich. carries-a second bevwhich it is connected'. This movement ofV the shaft 17 raises and lowers the ground wheel 15 and consequently tilts the main frame 10 about the axle l2.

An elevator designated generally at 30 is arranged at the forward end of the main frame and the elevator comprises an elevator frame including inclined bars 31 pivotally connected at their lower ends, as at 32, to the main frame and supporting carrier bar 33 at their lower ends which is suitably braced thereto by means of braces 34, Endless elevator chains 3G are operatively mounted on sprocket wheels 37 carried on a shaft 38 rotatably journaled in the bars 3l adjacent the uppervends thereof and on sprocket wheels 39 rotatably mounted on a shaft 40 arranged on the forward end of the carrier bars 33 and about flanged guide wheels 41 rotatably mounted on a shaft 42l arranged upon the vator chains carry forks 45 consisting of a transverse bar 47 having a plurality of curved tines 48 carried thereon, each of which comprises a body portion 49 extending from the bar 47 parallel to the chains and an integral rearwardly bend portion 50 ex# tending back over the body4 portion 49. Any

suitable number of forks may be 'provided and in this embodiment the elevator is shown as including six of such forks. During the ,pick up motion of the forks they are travelling between the flanged guide wheels 41 and the sprocket wheel 39 and the sprocket chains and forks during such travelling operate upon a track designated generally at and including a frame 56 and a plurality of rollers 57 carried by the frame and operatively engaging the endless chains thus iving to the forks a steady, uniform and e cient motion.

a horizontal Referring to Figure 2 it will be noted that the elevator 30 has an effective width greater than that of the distance between the traction wheels 11. This is important in order to prevent the loader from being mired.v It will be understood that when the elevator lll) tract the material therefrom irrespective o has an effective tine width greater than the distance between the outer edges of the traction wheels that the loader will cut its own path through the material being handled.

A beater, designated generally at 60 is cooperatively arranged with respect lto the forks and serves to remove excess and undesirable material therefrom immediately after the forks have gathered or picked up the material. This beater includes a frame 61 carried by the lower end of the side bars of the elevator frame and a spiked beater cylinder 62 rotatably journaled in the beater frame 61 and having its-spikes or teeth. 63 operating in the region against the backs of the curved portions 50 of the tines of the forks. A cleaner 65 coacts with the beater t-o remove the material therefrom which the beater takes from the forks and includes an oscillating shaft 66 journaled in the outer extremities of the beater frame and c-arrying a plurality of cleaner blades 67 which operate between the spikes or teeth 63 of the beater cylinder. The shaft-66 carries crank arms 68 which are connected to oneend of retractile coil springs 69,.the springs 69 being connected at their other ends, as at 70, to the beater frame and being tensioned to r'ck the shaft 66 and throw its-cleaner blade 67 into cooperative relation with respect to the teeth or spikes of the beater cylinder.

An extractor is arranged adjacent the upper or delivery end of the elevator and includes a drum 76 having teeth 77 extending radially therefrom. rIhe drum is rotatably mounted on a shaft 78 journaled in an extension 79 of the elevator frame. The teeth 77 of the extractor are arranged to operate between the tines of the forks as the chains which carry the forks pass over the upper sprocket wheels 37. When the teeth 77 thus move between lthe tines of the forks they exthe manner in which this material may be wedged in the tines or matter adhered thereto. l

A conveyor extending transversely of the machine and arranged below the extractor and below the delivery end of the elevator is provided and is adapted to receive the material which the elevator delivers thereto with the extractor 75. A deflector board 86 is arranged above the rear side of the ccnveyor rial thereto as the board' receives the material and deiiects it to the conveyor. The conveyor includes parallel endless chains 87 carrying an apron 88 to which is fixed transverse cleatsl 89. The endless chains 87 are carried upon pairs of sprocket wheels, designated at 90 and 91 and fixed to shafts 92 and 93, respectively.

Means is rovided for adjusting the elevator frame a ut its pivot bearing 32 and' angularly with respect to the main frame so as and insures the delivery of the mate-'i to dispose the forks 45 during their pick up operation with the most advantageous relation with respect to the ground. This means includes a verticallv adjustable standard having a pin and slot connection 96 with the extension 79 of the elevator frame and the extension 79 being rigidly connected with the elevator frame. This pin and slot connection is effective with respect to the elevator frame itself. The adjusting mechanism for the ver-tical standard 95 includes a screw 97 carried bv the lower end of the standard and operatively engaged with a nut 98 arranged centrally of a beveled gear 99. The beveled gear 1s rotatably journaled in a bearing 100 provided therefor on the main frame 10 and it is driven by a beveled pinion 101 carried on the end ofI a shaft 102 driven by means of beveled pinions 103 from a control shaft 104 which is operated bv a hand wheel 105. The hand wheels 27 and 105 are both disposed adjacent the seat of the operator, which is designated at 106 so as to be readily available to him.

A power plant designated generally at 110 and which may be of any suitable type such as an internal combustion engine or the like, is carried by the main frame. The power plant includes an engine shaft 111 which actuates the drive shaft 112 through suitable clutch mechanis1n113. At its outer end the drive shaft 112 carries a drive pinion 114 which meshes with an internal ring gear 115 carried' by the traction wheel 11. in this manner the traction wheels and consequently themachine is driven.

' Mechanism is provided for driving the elevator, the beater and the extractor from the drive shaftv112, and' includes a sprocket wheel 116 fixed to the drive shaft 112 and driving a short shaft 117 by means of the sprocket chain 118 and sprocket wheel 120 f fixed to the shont shaft. The short shaft 117 drives a shaft 121 by means of suitable gearing such as shown at 122. A pinion 123 is carried by the shaft 121 and by means of a sprocket chain 124 and fa large Asprocket wheel 125, fixed to the shaft 38, drives the elevator. The elevator thus receives its m0- tion from the drive shaft 112, and by means of the elevator the beater 60 is also driven from the drive shaft, this being accomplished by means of a sprocket wheel 126 fixed to the shaft 40, and a sprocket chain 127 trained over the sprocket Wheel 126 and over a sprocket wheel 128 fixed to the beater shaft. The extractor is also driven from the drive shaft by means of the elevator, yand for this purpose, the shaft 38 of the elevator carries another sprocket wheel 130 which drives a sprocket chain 131 fixed to the shaft 132 journaled in the extension 79 of the elevator frame. The gears 133 .and 134 drive the shaft 7.8 of the extracto from the shaft lao Driving mechanismis provided for actuating the conveyor 85 from the drive shaft 112 and includes a jack shaft 135 driven by bevel gearing 136 from the drive shaft 112 and in turn driving a countershaft 137 by means of beveled gears 138 and 139. At the opposite ends of the countershaft-beveled pinions designated at 140 and 141 are loosely mounted and are adapted to be selectively clutched to the counter shaft by means of sliding clutch members142 and 143 splined to the counter shaft and engageable with coacting clutch members 144 and 145 fixed to the beveled pinions 140 and 141, respecf tively. The beveled pinions 140 and 141 mesh with coacting beveled pinions 146 and 147 carried on the ends of short shafts 148 and 149 which have fixed to their other ends sprocket wheels 150 and 151. The sprocket wheels 150 and 151 mesh with sprocket chains 152 and 153 respectively which in turn respectively engage sprocket w-heels 154 and 155 fixed tothe sprocket wheel shafts 92 and 93. It is obvious that by selectively engaging the clutch members 142.

and 144 on the one hand or 143 and 145 on the other hand, the conveyor may be driven in one or the other direction.

Controlling mechanism is provided for the clutch 113 and includes a bell brank- 160 having one arm connected with the movable clutch member and having the other arm connected with the connecting rod 161, which h-as its opposite end pivotally secured to a. crank 162 provided on a control shaft 163 operated by a foot lever 164 arranged adjacent the seat 106. Controlling mechanism is also provided for the clutches of the lateral conveyor and includes a master bar 165 connected with the movable clutch members 142 -and 143, and it is operated by a control shaft 166 actuated by a foot lever 167, motion transmission mechanism designated at 168 serving to impart the motion ofthe control shaft to the master control bar.

In operation, the operator from his seat 106 controls the power plant and gearing and by manipulating the control lever he may advance the machine and operate thev elevator. When the elevator is in action, the beater and the extractor are constrained to partake of their movements. The .operator controls the action of the later-al conveyor 85 and causes the conveyor to move in either direction. The main frame 10 of the machine is adjusted about its axle 12 by manipulation of the hand wheel 27 and similarly the elevator frame is tilted or swung with respect to the main frame by manipulation of the hand wheel 105. These hand wheels and the control levers being arranged immediately adjacent the seat of the operator are convenient and immediately' available. for his control. As the machine is advanced, the forks pick up the material and the beater insures that the forks only pick up the quantity of material that is within their capacity. The construction of the tines of the forks enable them to penetrate the material operated upon and to disengag'e from the main body of the material such portion thereof as is picked up by the forks thereby formed or in a sense cutting a path through the material. The

action of the forksis thus analogous to lateral conveyor', whence it is carried in either direction to a spreader or the like.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described,

traction wheels, an axle carried by the traction wheels, a main frame pivotally mounted on said axle, a ground wheel,y,.fa vertically adjustable bearing for said ground wheel on said main frame whereby said main frame may be tilted about its axle, means for adjusting said bearing, an elevator including an elevator frame pivotally mounted on said' main frame, an endless elevator carried by said elevator frame, means for adjusting said elevator frame including a vertically adjustable standard having a pin and slot connection with said elevator frame, forks carried by said endless elevator, a beater cooperable with said forksto remove excess material therefrom, an extractor coacting with said forks for discharging material therefrom at the delivery end of the elevator and a lateral conveyor receiving the material discharged from said forks. A

2. In a machine of the character described, a pivoted main frame, means for pivotally adjusting said main frame for regulating the depth of cut, an elevator carried by said main frame and having cutting means,-I

means for adjusting saidf elevator with respect to said main frame whereby the proper angle of cut may be simultaneously maintained as the main frame is tipped, a beater coacting with said elevator at the pick up -e end thereof to remove excess material from the elevator, an extractor coacting with said elevator at the delivery-end thereof, and a conveyor from said elevator.

3. In a machine of the character dereceiving material dischargedl los scribed, a main frame, an elevator carried by said main frame.. and including an elevator frame `lrrivotally connected at its lower end to the main frame, an endlesselevator carriedl by said'elevator frame, and means.

for adjusting said elevator frame about its pivot including a vertically adjustable standard carried by the main frame and having a pin and slot connection With the elevator frameand means for adjusting said standard including a screw'carried thereby, a nut coacting with said screw, a beveled gear integral with said nut and means for operating said beveled gear including a pinion engaged therewith, a shaft carried by said pinion, and hand Wheel operated mechanism for actuating said shaft.

' 4. ln a machine-of the character described, an elevator frame including side bars, carrier bars supported upon the lower end of said side bars, a. shaft carried by said elevator frame, shafts mounted on said carrier bars, sprocket Wheels carried by the shaft of said elevator frame, sprocket Wheels carried by one of the shafts of said carrier bars,

flanged guide Wheels carried by the other shaft of the carrier bars, endless chains trained about said sprocket Wheels and said guide Wheels, a track for said endless chains mounted upon the carrier bars and arranged between the sprocket Wheels and gulde Wheels thereof, said track including` a frame and rollers cooperatively engaged with the endless chains of the elevator, and forks fixed to the endless chains, all as and for the purposes set forth.

5.1n a machine of the character def. scribed, an elevator including a frame, i

reame@ sprocket Wheels carried thereby, endless sprocket chains trained over said sprocket Wheels, forks carried by said endless chains and including a plurality of tines, and a .beater arranged adjacent the pick up. end

of said forks and including a rotatable cylinder having aplurality of teeth operable against the outer face of the tines ofthe forks, and chain and sprocket gearing for driving said cylinder from said elevator.

6. In a machine of the character described, an elevator including a frame, sprocket Wheels carried thereby, endless sprocket chains trained over said sprocket Wheels, forks carried by said endless chains and including a (plurality of tines, and abeater arranged a jacent the pick u end of said forks and having teeth opera le a ainst the outer face of the tines of the for s,'means for driving said beater vfrom said elevator, and a cleaner coacting with said beater.

7. In a machine of t-he character described, a main frame, an elevator pivotally mounted upon the main frame, a beater cooperating with the elevator, and an extractor coactin with the elevator at the delivery end thereof.

8. In a machine of the character described,

an elevator including forks consisting of a plurality of tines, a beater arranged adjacent the pick up end of said forks and including a rotatable cylinder having a plurality of blades cooperable with said forks to remove excess material therefrom.

rAY EDISON NULL.y 

